Brand power can be defined in a number of ways, but ultimately each definition will mean very little if it does not translate into sales growth for the product. Fast Company writes that Dos Equis beer and Old Spice men’s deodorant products both have extremely popular spokesmen who have gone viral online, but only one

The New York Times reports that The Walt Disney Company has agreed in principle to sell major film production property Miramax to an investment group for approximately $660 million. The deal follows a six-month bidding war between Miramax founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein and a series of investors. Construction business owner Ronald Tutor and his

The financial reform bill that was signed into law this month included an auto dealer exemption. The auto dealers’ exemption allows them to escape auto lending regulation that could have prohibited many common deceptive auto lending tactics. To get a better deal, first time car buyers need to be aware of these practices. They also

Your credit score, that simple three-digit number, tells the world how worthy you are of a loan. It describes your future risks and past loans and overall financial history. Is yours a healthy number or has it been scarred by past financial events and decisions? How will a payday loan affect it? Credit score numbers

If you need cash today, time is everything. You won’t waste time when you apply for a loan at Personal Money Market. All the searching and comparing are done instantly, and you’ll immediately be connected to a reputable online payday loan company. You won’t be kept waiting; you’ll get an answer to your loan request

People need a fast and dependable way to borrow money despite the changing economy, but it’s getting harder and harder to qualify for most loans. More than one in four American consumers now have credit scores lower than 600, and with banks and credit-card companies raising lending standards across the board, many traditional forms of

When a female bear rampaged through Soda Butte Campground in Montana on Wednesday, a woman and a teen were injured, and one man was killed. The National Park Service has already launched an investigation into the attack. Camping in National Parks is usually very safe, but this attack proves that wild animals can be, at

Microloans are emerging as an answer to the small business credit crisis. Microloans are more commonly associated with developing countries. But microlending is on the rise in the U.S. as more small businesses are taking out microloans when the bank says no. Microlending could increase even more as a small business lending bill that would

In Southwest Michigan, a state of emergency has been declared in response to the Kalamazoo River oil spill. At 9:45 a.m. on Monday morning, an oil pipeline began leaking 19,500 barrels of oil into the river. The resulting oil slick is moving quickly in the water, and the EPA and Enbridge Energy are working to

Facing a $17 billion second quarter loss and $32 billion in spill cleanup costs, BP has decided to take a $10 billion tax credit. This credit is intended as a cash loan advance for companies in trouble. The legality of the BP tax credit is under debate. In the end, the U.S. Government may see

District of Columbia Chancellor of Public Schools Michelle Rhee has dismissed 226 D.C. teachers, reports The Washington Post. Not only that, but an additional 737 instructors are under threat of dismissal in a year if they don’t improve markedly. This barrage of cutbacks stems from a new evaluation system called IMPACT, which D.C. public school

Open violence in the Central Asian nation Kyrgyzstan has cost hundreds of lives, created at least 400,000 refugees and all but destroyed the national budget. The nation’s move toward parliamentary democracy – which has emboldened supporters of overthrown former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and militants from Uzbekistan – has been at the center of clashes between

New home sales exceeded gloomy forecasts in June, rebounding from a record low in May. But because new home sales fell so low after the home buyer tax credit expired last spring, June’s numbers were still the second lowest on record. Some believe that the worst of the post-tax-credit slump is over. Others think that

A relatively new mortgage product, known as a “reverse mortgage” is gaining popularity. Reverse mortgages are usually targeted to senior citizens. These mortgage products essentially allow a homeowner to get fast cash out of their home, while still living in it for a period of time. Consumer advocates, though, are warning that reverse mortgages may

The international court within the UN, the International Court of Justice, has ruled that Kosovo has the legal right to declare freedom from Serbia. Both sides of this debate have been waiting anxiously for this decision. This decision is going to have effects around the world. Kosovo declares freedom In February of 2008, Kosovo made

Flooding in Milwaukee, Wis. has caused near catastrophic damage. The city was hammered with over five inches of rain, which has caused flooding in Milwaukee and other areas. A sinkhole opened in downtown Milwaukee, and the airport has been closed down as the runways were flooded. All flights in or out of Milwaukee have been

Apple may not be recalling the iPhone 4, but it certainly isn’t because the company is strapped for cash. Its profit in fiscal third quarter 2010, per PC Magazine, was massive thanks to the iPad. Apple made $3.25 billion net profit on revenue of $15.7 billion. Yet that may not even be the most explosive